Editor:
The Española chapter of Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) feels very disappointed with the Valley’s major alcoholic beverage sales facilities disagreeing with SADD’s sticker shock campaign. We wished to share the knowledge of the consequences of adults buying alcohol for under aged minors and/or vendors selling alcoholic beverages to minors.
Unfortunately, we were unable to educate most our local alcohol vendors, which confused us greatly. What did SADD do or say that the vendors did not agree with? Our goal is a common one: stop underage drinking and driving. We are sure the Valley supports our efforts on accomplishing this goal. We were lucky to find one local establishment that would cooperate with us.
We acknowledge and thank El Rey Liquors for their cooperation and support with our presentation.
Shawnti Gonzalez
Treasurer, Students Against Drunk Driving
Editor:
The Española Valley High School’s Students Against Drunk Driving group tried to do a sticker shock at local alcohol vendors. Sticker shock is a program that educates or reminds alcohol vendors about the consequences of selling to minors.
Our group contacted the six major liquor establishments in our Valley and only had a good response from one, which was El Rey Liquors.
On behalf of SADD and as president of SADD I’d like to thank El Rey Liquors for taking a proactive step in educating our Valley, and being a responsible vendor.
Vanessa Gonzales
President, EVHS Students Against Drunk Driving
Editor:
The students at Española Valley High School involved in SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) held a sticker shock April 18 at local liquor establishments. Well, that is, we tried.
We were only able to successfully present this campaign to one establishment, El Rey Liquors. Sticker shock is a simple and effective way to spread the word about the consequences of buying alcoholic beverages for minors by posting information stickers on packaged liquor inside the store.
However, after being rejected permission to perform this campaign at five of the six biggest liquor establishments in Española got us thinking. What made these establishments close the door on us so fast? What do they have to hide? That’s something people might want to think about.
I would like to thank El Rey Liquors for allowing us to perform this campaign at their establishment.
Devin Galligan
Santa Cruz
Editor:
The Española Valley High School Students Against Drunk Driving group tried to perform a Sticker Shock campaign April 18 in the Valley. We called the six major liquor establishments in Espanola, and five of them declined our group. The only responsible liquor establishment in Espanola that let us educate the community with our campaign was El Rey Liquors.
We would like to thank them tremendously and call attention to the poor attitude of the other liquor establishments in our community. Due to the poor reputation our community has we think our campaign is viable and necessary to remind our community that buying alcohol for a minor is a fourth degree felony, especially with prom and end of school activities right around the corner.
Unfortunately, the liquor establishments were not cooperative. In conclusion we would like to once again thank El Rey Liquors for supporting responsibility in our Valley and encourage everyone not to drink and drive.
Ashely Abeyta
Española
Editor:
As the Española Valley High School Students Against Drunk Driving advisor, it extremely amazes me that with 20 liquor retail establishments in Rio Arriba County, only one opened the doors to the youth of our Valley. We were trying to promote a Sticker Shock Campaign, which is geared to raise public awareness about underage drinking, youth access to alcohol, and to strengthen the laws against providing it to a minor.
Students involved with this project are very dedicated and concerned that adults readily provide alcohol to their underage peers and they do not want this practice to continue.
As the SADD sponsor I realize that unfortunately the youth need to rise above this situation and continue to enforce their mission of preventing underage drinking. When I contacted one particular establishment I was told, ‘”No, we can not support that campaign because it will scare away our customers.”
Mind you, the youth would have been accompanied by law enforcement. It was discouraging to learn that this program is a statewide initiative and yet, Rio Arriba County, one of the largest counties in the state, cannot support the cause.
Many people say that youth are the problem. However, they are trying to be part of the solution. It’s the adults who are continuing this community norm.
So thank you to El Rey Liquors for being the only establishment to take part in motivating our youth and giving us a chance to spread awareness of this problem.
Marcella Sandoval
EVHS SADD Advisor